The East Maitland Youth Group Band –> THE new youth group in St Joseph’s parish, Murgon held its first youth Mass on May 11.
About 200 people packed the church as the Mass started with a procession bringing in the Gospel and the parish’s synod pot.
‘We brought the pot to the altar and pulled the different coloured fabrics out of it and laid them around,’ said youth co-ordinator Matthew Barsby.
The congregation was accompanied by a band of young people playing drums, flute, guitar, and Matthew on piano.
They performed up-beat hymns songs including Shout to the Lord and Shine Jesus Shine.
About five or six young people took turns to read parts of the readings and Youth Ministry Team member Joe Alexander gave the homily, directed towards young people. Joe is a teacher at South Burnett Catholic College in Kingaroy.
‘At the start of Mass, we didn’t have any lights on in the sanctuary, or on the altar, just in the main body of the Church,’ said Matthew.
‘But when the gifts were brought up, we switched the focus and the lights from the people in the church to the Eucharist on the altar.
‘It was very effective. It drew people’s attention to the eucharistic celebration which was great,’ he said.
‘The Mass was different, but everyone left saying how good it was.
‘We also received many positive comments from the older members of the congregation.’
The youth Mass was followed by a sausage sizzle and a trivia night.
